A Quick Do’s and Don’ts Guide For Cystic Acne

Acne is acne, right? Yes and no. Some types are more mild, while others require more knowledge and treatment in order to experience relief. One such type of acne is called cystic acne.

What is cystic acne?

This form of acne is the most advanced form of acne and will not go away on its own. In order to treat cystic acne, you must either take preventative measures and take action with a treatment that will work to treat this form of hormonal acne at it’s source. If left untreated, cystic acne can appear in the form of deep, painful cysts, and often results in acne scars which are hard, if not impossible, to eliminate. These pus-filled cysts form below the skin, and often resemble boils. While some opt for ice compresses to reduce swelling, others with severe and frequent cystic acne may opt for painful cortisone injections from a dermatologist. Both of these solutions may work to temporarily reduce swelling, but don’t actually work to address the actual cause of the problem, which is the only real way acne will ever be eliminated. Cystic acne is among the hardest to treat with topical solutions, making a systemic regimen such as AcnEase® a perfect and practical solution for those suffering from cystic acne.

If you have cystic acne, there are some simple, everyday things you can do to help make your symptoms less severe. Check out this quick and easy guide to direct you toward relief, and away from painful, long-lasting symptoms!

Cystic Acne Do’s:

1. Be mindful of what you eat. When it comes to skin, obviously the old adage reigns true: what you put into your body is going to affect what you see on the outside. Inflammation is a natural response by the body in an attempt to protect itself from irritants, and in the case of acne, those irritants appear in the form of a clogged pore. An inflammatory response can result in those bumps that you get on your face.  Therefore, keeping to an anti-inflammatory diet for acne is a crucial step in becoming acne-free.
2. Take a deep breath, and keep those stress levels low. Because cystic acne is the result of a hormonal imbalance, taking whatever measures you can to keep your hormone levels from fluctuating will go a long way in keeping acne symptoms at bay, whether that means catching a cat nap, or taking a few deep breaths while you sit in traffic. Stress causes a serious increase in inflammatory chemicals at a cellular level, and since acne is one form of an inflammatory disease, stress will worsen acne, sometimes quite dramatically. In order for our bodies to deal with stress, several special hormones are produced to help mediate this process. Some of the most important are cortisol, and other hormones released by the adrenal glands that can act as androgens, which can over-stimulate the sebaceous glands. Androgens and fluctuating hormone levels will trigger these glands to produce more skin oil, which in turn clogs the pores, potentially leading to more acne!
3. Slough away dead skin cells. It’s not just excess sebum that clogs pores and causes acne. Dead skin cells pair with the sticky, oily substance to form bacteria deep within the pore, so eliminating that half of the problem will give you a good chance at remaining acne-free. Because cystic acne is often painful and far too sensitive to handle rough, abrasive exfoliants, gently sloughing away dead skin cells with a natural paste made of baking soda and water can make for a great solution for anyone with this type of acne. Not only does it help treat existing acne, it goes a long way in polishing the skin around any acne scars that may be left behind from previous breakouts.

Cystic Acne Don’ts:

1. Don’t further contaminate! While acne is the result of a hormonal issue that must be treated at its source, taking measures to keep the surface of your skin clean will go a long way in preventing breakouts. Getting into the habit of keeping those fingers and hands off the face will help prevent bacteria from settling on the complexion.  Changing out those bath towels, hand towels, and pillowcases every week can result in measurable improvements in the texture and appearance of your skin too. Resisting the urge to pick or pop will also help prevent the spread of contamination, as the contents of that blemish you’re extracting can spread into surrounding pores, possibly leading to more acne!
2. Whether you forget to apply sunscreen, forget to stay hydrated or over-treat your skin with drying, alcohol-based cleansers and toners, when we zap our skin of moisture, the body signals the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum in order to properly hydrate the skin. Treating your acne to a sunburn or an extra washing can actually be a counterproductive move, as more sebum often leads to more acne! Stick to the shade, drink plenty of water, and don’t forget to moisturize! Your skin will thank you! (**A note to AcnEase users: your treatment is already working to ensure that the sebaceous glands are working to produce only the necessary amount of sebum to properly hydrate your skin.)

Cystic acne may come with some slightly different symptoms than other types of acne, but like all forms, the only real way to treat acne is to address the problem at the source, which AcnEase does in order to reveal true results. Using safe and effective, all-natural ingredients, AcnEase works to create a buffer between the hormones and the sebaceous glands to eliminate acne before it starts! When combined with any of the above-mentioned tips, you can rest assured that you are giving your skin it’s best shot possible at remaining free of cystic acne, and other acne vulgaris symptoms!

We want to hear from you! Do you have cystic acne? What do, or don’t you do, to help treat your condition? Tell us in the comments!